Article V: The University Council
Section 1: Name
The name of the body hereby constituted shall be the University Council.
Section 2: Powers and Jurisdiction
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General Educational Policy
The University Council shall exercise legislative power on matters of general educational policy and, consistent with Policies[[Policies of the Board of Regents, Academic Affairs, § 3.0.]] of the Board of Regents, shall make such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or proper for the promotion of the educational interests of the University. Recommendations made by any school or college regarding the establishment, major modification, or discontinuance of any degree or program must be approved by the Council before being submitted to the President for transmission to the Chancellor and the Board of Regents for approval.[[Policies of the Board of Regents, Curriculum, § 3.3.]]
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Welfare of Entire University
The University Council shall exercise legislative power on matters dealing with the general welfare of the entire University and, consistent with the Policies of the Board of Regents,[[Policies of the Board of Regents, Presidential Authority and Responsibilities, § 2.5.]] [[Policies of the Board of Regents, Faculties, § 3.2.2.]] shall make such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or proper for the promotion of the general welfare of the University.
The University Council shall not adopt regulations affecting the internal action of any school, college or any institutionally-related entity (e.g., the UGA Athletic Association, the UGA Research Foundation, the Arch Foundation) except insofar as such action may be necessary to protect the interest of the University as a whole or the interests of another school or college. However, any action of a school, college or division thereof or institutionally-related entity that in the judgment of the Council seriously affects the interests of another school or college, or adversely affects the general interests of the University, may be set aside by the University Council. Each school or college faculty concerned shall be given an opportunity to be heard by the University Council, through representatives from that school or college appointed for that purpose, before final action is taken.
Since the creation, abolition, or major restructuring of a school or college necessarily affects the educational interests and the welfare of the entire University, any proposal for the creation, abolition, or major restructuring of a school or college shall be presented to the University Council for its recommendation to the President.
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Regulation of Student Conduct and Activities
The University Council shall have power to make general regulations regarding student conduct and other phases of student life and activities. It shall also have power to establish rules governing all forms of student organizations, including sororities and fraternities, insofar as they are properly subject to the jurisdiction of the University.
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Faculty Conference
The committee and its delegates shall have the authority to conduct inquiries into faculty grievances and to attempt the resolution of these grievances in consultation with the parties involved, and to issue reports and recommendations to the President regarding the grievances it has considered.
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Faculty Grievance
The University Council shall elect a Faculty Grievance Committee from the University Faculty. This committee shall be a standing committee. Any member of the University Faculty or any group of members of the faculty shall have a right of access to this committee prior to final rulings by the President. The committee and its delegates shall have the authority to conduct inquiries into faculty grievances and to attempt the resolution of these grievances in consultation with the parties involved, and to issue reports and recommendations to the President regarding the grievances it has considered.
The President, prior to rendering a final decision on the matter, may refer to the committee for review and recommendation the complaint of any faculty member. However, final rulings by the President may be appealed only to the Board of Regents.[[University Statutes, Article XV]]
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Creation of Committees
The University Council shall have power to create such committees as may be needed for the orderly and efficient handling of its business, and on matters of urgency it may vest authority in an executive committee (or such other committee as it may designate) to take immediate action which shall be binding until reversed or modified at a subsequent meeting of the University Council. It shall elect or provide for the appointment of the members of the Executive Committee and of such other committees as it creates. The number of those serving on each standing committee, the manner of their election, the duties of each committee, and the term of service of each member of a committee shall be set forth in the Bylaws of the Council which shall be available to all members of the University Faculty and to the students of the University. Members of the University Faculty other than members of the Council may be appointed or elected to standing or special committees of the Council as provided for in the Bylaws.
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Rules of Procedure
The University Council shall have power to establish rules of procedure and to determine all matters pertaining to its own meetings. Such general regulations as may be established regarding procedure shall be clearly set forth in its Bylaws.
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The Secretary of the University Council shall publish promptly to all University Faculty members, students and staff a record of all actions taken at each meeting of the Council and shall forward to the Chancellor a copy of the actions of each meeting.
Section 3: Ex Officio and Appointed Members
Voting ex officio members of the University Council shall be as follows:
- The President of the University (who shall be the chair and presiding officer of the Council),
- No more than six of the Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents, as designated in Article III,
- The Deans of the Schools and Colleges,
- The Associate Provost and University Librarian,
- The Registrar (who shall be the Secretary of the Council),
- The President and Vice President of the Student Government Association,
- The President of the Graduate School Association,
- The President of the UGA Staff Council,
- The President of the UGA Postdoctoral Association, and
- The President of the UGA Alumni Association.
Voting ex officio members of the Council together shall not exceed 32 of the total membership. The Executive Committee may appoint a maximum of six additional members to staggered three-year terms to help rectify imbalances regarding race, ethnicity or gender.
Non-voting Ex officio members of the University Council shall be as follows: Vice President of the Student Government Association and Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations
Section 4: Elected Members
The remainder of the University Council shall consist of members of the faculty elected by faculty, staff elected by the staff, and of students elected by the students.
Section 5: Eligibility
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Faculty
Any member of the faculty shall be eligible for election to the University Council.
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Students
Any student shall be eligible for election to the University Council if he/she is a regularly enrolled full-time student of sophomore level or above in one of the schools or colleges of the University and is in good academic and disciplinary standing as defined by the Council and the individual schools and colleges.
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Staff
Any staff from the classified personnel [[University System of Georgia Human Resources Administrative Practice Manual.]] or other regular non-faculty status employees shall be eligible for election to the University Council as outlined in the University Council Bylaws.
Section 6: Ratio of Membership
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Faculty
There shall be one member elected by the faculty with academic rank of each of the several schools and colleges. Faculty members holding academic rank shall vote in the school or college in which they hold academic rank. A number of extra members shall be elected by the faculties of each of the schools and colleges. The number of the extra elected members shall be determined by electing one member for each twenty full-time faculty members, other than county extension personnel, rounded to the nearest multiple of 20. Multiples of 10 that are not multiples of 20 shall be rounded down. The number of the extra members from each school and college under this formula shall be determined annually by the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. For each of the offices of Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Vice President for Instruction, Vice President for Research, Vice President for Public Service and Outreach, and Vice President for Student Affairs the members of the corps of instruction who do not hold academic rank (e.g., public service, research associate and librarians) shall each have two Council members elected from and by faculty from the corps of instruction who do not hold academic rank (e.g., public service personnel, research associates, librarians, etc). A number of additional members shall be elected by the faculties of each Administrative Unit, one for each 20 faculty members rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 (multiples of 10 that are not multiples of 20 shall be rounded down).
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Students
Student members of the Council shall be students elected by students from their respective schools or colleges as outlined in the Bylaws.
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Staff
Staff members of the Council will be elected by staff serving on the UGA Staff Council as outlined in the University Council Bylaws.
Section 7: Time of Elections
The elected members of the University Council shall be elected in the Spring before their term of service on the Council begins.
Section 8: Term of Elected Members
Student members of the University Council shall serve for a term of one year. Elected faculty and staff members shall normally serve a term of three years. The term of a faculty member elected for three years shall not be cut off by reason of a diminution in the total number of representatives assigned to the school or college.
Section 9: Vacancies
Vacancies upon the University Council shall be filled by special election held during the academic year after 10 days notice in the school or college affected. The dean of the school or college concerned shall be responsible for the conduct of the election. Staff vacancies upon the University Council shall be filled by special election held by the Staff Council during the academic year after 10 days notice.
Section 10: Regular Meetings
The Council will schedule at least three meetings each semester of the regular academic year. The time and place of the regular meetings shall be determined by the presiding officer.
Section 11: Special Meetings
The presiding officer or the Executive Committee of the Council shall have authority to call a special meeting, or a special meeting shall be held upon written petition, addressed to the Executive Committee and signed by twenty members of the Council.
Section 12: Quorum
A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum.
Section 13: Notice of Meeting
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Notice of a regular or special meeting shall be sent by the Secretary to each member of the University Council and all faculty, students, and staff 10 days in advance of the meeting, but delay in delivery of such notice shall not invalidate any action at the meeting.
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All notices pertaining to special meetings shall specify the matters to be discussed and acted upon at such meeting, and no other business shall be transacted.